(Credit: TT Games)
Batman rules. The Caped Crusader has inspired some of the greatest pop culture entertainment, with even middling projects receiving a boost when Bruce Wayne's in the mix. Lego has leveraged Batman's awesomeness for years, with toys, The Lego Batman Movie, and a video game trilogy. However, the latest team-up, Lego Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight, celebrates all the Batman media that has come before it. I played an hour-long demo of the game, scheduled for release in 2026, and walked away impressed by its irreverent yet epic take on the DC superhero.
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Open-World Gameplay: Lego Meets Arkham
I spent the demo's opening section simply patrolling the streets of Gotham City. Developer TT Games has gradually expanded its various open worlds over the past few years, and Legacy of the Dark Knight continues the evolution seen in Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Gotham City is a vibrant blend of neon signs, grimy alleyways, and worn brickwork (with visible Lego logos on some of those bricks). The ambient music had an undeniable 1980s flair that recalled the scores heard in the Burton-era Batman films.
The open world demonstrates how Legacy of the Dark Knight isn't simply interested in honoring the overall idea of Batman; it specifically carries the torch for Rocksteady's acclaimed Batman games. It feels like a kid-friendly yet surprisingly faithful successor to Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight. As in those titles, Legacy of the Dark Knight lets you grapple and glide across rooftops, even if the physics are a bit floatier. Likewise, you can summon the Batmobile or find Riddler collectibles, although I didn't spend much time with those gameplay elements in the demo.
(Credit: TT Games)I trounced a bunch of goons, though, and the combat system is Arkham to the core. I tore through adorable mooks by tapping the attack and counter buttons, while maintaining an offensive rhythm. It felt great; my Arkham muscle memory instantly returned. The developers are so confident that they're including tougher difficulty levels to test your skills. Optional combat encounters sprang up frequently in the open world, so there should be plenty of opportunities to practice.
Epic Missions With Dynamic Duos
I spent the bulk of my playtime in a scripted mission. There, I saw more of the game's story and how it blends multiple Batman interpretations into a unified original narrative. For example, the Joker is born after the Red Hood falls into a vat of acid, an origin seen in the comics. However, this Joker also recites lines from The Dark Knight while plotting a very Jack Nicholson-esque scheme involving laughing gas. Meanwhile, the mission paired me with a Commissioner Gordon who bore a striking resemblance to Jeffrey Wright's portrayal of the character in The Batman. Yet the team-up attacks felt straight out of Adam West's era. Additional costumes refer to even more touchstones. Legacy of the Dark Knight is a big Batman toybox, and seeing those familiar pieces fitted together in new ways was fun on its own.
The mission was competent action-adventure fare, surprisingly lengthy and involved. As with Lego Star Wars, Legacy of the Dark Knight is a good way to introduce children to modern AAA gaming concepts, such as frenetic chase scenes or scanning the environment to progress. As in the Arkham games, Batman can avoid big fights, sneak through vents, and take out enemies using stealth. His gadgets serve multiple purposes as well. You can use his grappling hook to pull enemies closer or solve puzzles by yanking platforms off the ground. As a Lego game, Legacy of the Dark Knight lets you build numerous contraptions by wrecking the surroundings.
Occasionally, I switched to Gordon and used his unique abilities, such as plugging leaks with a glue gun. Even if you play by yourself like I did, each mission pairs Batman with a different sidekick, including Robin and Catwoman. You can also play the entire game in local co-op for multiplayer fun, but you can't take the action online.
(Credit: TT Games)Between its impressive set pieces and an open world that invites exploration, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has me intrigued as a gamer and Batman fan. We'll see how well it upholds the legacy when it launches in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.